Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated India's commitment to early conclusion of a high quality, comprehensive and balanced Regional Economic Partnership agreement. Intervening in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP Summit in Singapore, Mr.Modi urged all leaders to give the required mandate to their trade ministers so that RCEP negotiations can be concluded at the earliest. Prime Minister Modi said that the finalised agreement should be modern, comprehensive, balanced and mutually beneficial. Negotiations are on amongst the ten ASEAN countries and six Asia Pacific states with which ASEAN has a Free Trade Agreement. India, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand are such countries. Briefing media after the Summit, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce Sudhanshu Pandey said, Prime Minister stressed the need for an early conclusion of the negotiations by fast tracking and intensifying negotiations, bilaterally and multilaterally.

"The Prime Minister complimented trade ministers and negotiators for substantial progress that has been made particularly in 2018. He noted that significant progress has been made in the market access negotiations of the goods but also highlighted that we need to make similar efforts to make progress in services negotiations as they constitute more than 50 percent of the GDP of most of the RCEP countries."

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The Prime Minister today held bilateral meetings with his Singaporean, Australian and Thai counterparts on the margins of the East Asia Summit in Singapore.

In his meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong, the two leaders exchanged views on cooperation in financial technology, enhanced connectivity and regional economic integration.

Mr Modi also met Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The two leaders had a good discussion on deepening ties in trade and investment, defence and security and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

Stepping up engagement with a valued regional partner as a part of Act East Policy, Mr Modi met the Prime Minister of Thailand General Prayut Chan-o-cha. They discussed cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security and connectivity.

Earlier in the day, Mr Modi delivered the keynote address at the Singapore Fintech Festival. He said, technology is creating boundless opportunities to transform lives of the people. Mr Modi said, technology is defining competitiveness and power in the new world. He said, it is a great honour for him to be the first Head of Government to deliver his address at the event.

"Fintech festival is also a celebration of belief. Belief in the spirit of innovation and the power of imagination. Belief in the energy of youth and their passion for change. Belief in making the world a better place. And it is no surprise that in just its third year, this festival is already the world's largest festival."

Mr Modi reached Singapore this morning on a two-day visit to attend the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-India informal meet and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit to review the progress made on the negotiations to finalise the proposed free trade agreement. Our correspondent covering the Prime Minister's visit has filed this report:

­The sky of Singapore was cloudy but New Delhi's vision was clear as if it was a day of India in Singapore. At the RCEP summit, Prime Minister Modi made it clear that the final agreement has to be mutually beneficial to all and it should be fast tracked, only then it will be a game changer deal. He told the US Vice President Mike Pence that the single source of terrorism is traced to Pakistan. Earlier, thousands of people waited eagerly to listen to Mr Modi at Fintech festival. When he emerged on the stage, the atmosphere reverberated with Modi Modi. As he narrated the story of India, there was deafening applause after applause. The speech had humour, ideas, vision and of course invitation to come to India for start up and innovation. When he spoke of inclusive development and offered the expertise, this correspondent heard a journalist from Norway saying, he is the man devoted to development. Naseem Naqvi, AIR News, Singapore.

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The Election Commission has expressed satisfaction over assembly poll preparations in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at a press conference in Bhopal this evening, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat said, the commission is committed to conducting a free, fair and transparent election.

District-wise preparations were reviewed by the Election Commission during meetings with collectors and superintendents of police and officials engaged in electioneering in Indore and Bhopal. The commission informed that state election machinery has been directed to carry out effective steps to address issues raised by political parties. Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat and Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa also launched Sugamya Portal App to facilitate Persons with Disabilities and released CDs & SVEEP activities book during the visit. Many candidates of various political parties including BJP and Congress have withdrawn their names. Overall 4 thousand 157 nomination papers were submitted in the state and 574 nominations have been cancelled during scrutiny. Sanjeev Sharma, AIR News, Bhopal.

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In Chhattisgarh, electioneering has gained momentum in 72 constituencies which are going to polls in the second phase on November 20.

Campaigning has intensified for the second phase of polling in Chhattisgarh. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath and Star campaigner of BJP and actress Hema Malini addressed election meetings at various places to seek support for BJP candidates. Congress President Rahul Gandhi also held the public meetings at Korba, Bilaspur, Kawardha and Bhilai to canvass for his party candidates today. Vikalp Shukla, Air News, Raipur"

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In Mizoram, campaigning by parties has picked up throughout the state for 40 seated Assembly election. 209 candidate remain in the fray, as three candidates have withdrawn their nomination. Today was the last date for withdrawal of candidature. The state is going to polls on 28th of this month.

Meanwhile, Aizawl bench of Guwahati High Court today stayed the final publication of Electoral Roll for Kolasib district of the state.

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In Rajasthan, on the third day of nomination process today, 119 candidates filed 145 nomination papers including many BJP and congress MLAs.The BJP MP from Dausa Hareesh Meena and BJP MLA from Nagaur Habib ur Rehman joined congress today.

BJP today released its second list of candidates for assembly elections in Rajasthan. The list containing 31 names, was finalised by BJP Central Election Committee. BJP has retained 6 MLAs and some ministers of Raje government. Polling for 200 assembly constituencies in the state will be held on the 7th of December.

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The Winter Session of Parliament will be held from 11th of December till the 8th of January. This was decided by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.Talking to media, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said eight important bills are to be passed in Rajya Sabha and fifteen in Lok Sabha. He said the government is ready to discuss every issue.

ISRO’s heavy-lift rocket GSLV-Mark-Three has proven its reliability by successfully launching the communication satellite GSAT-29. It lifted off this evening at 05.08 hours from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikotta in Andhra Pradesh. In a little over 16 minutes, it injected the country’s second high-throughput communication satellite GSAT-29 into the geostationary transfer orbit.

ISRO chairman Dr Sivan, in his congratulatory message to his fellow scientists said, the GSLV Mark-Three has entered majestically into the list of operational launch vehicles today. He informed that, the second mission to the moon Chandrayaan-II will be accomplished by January next and the manned mission to space, Gaganyaan by December 2021.

The success of today’s GSLV Mark-Three mission has given a significant boost to the future missions of the ISRO. Besides boosting the morale of the national space agency, it also brings the moon mission Chandrayaan-II one more step closer. Now India has yet another reliable and powerful rocket that can inject four-ton class satellites in a geostationary transfer orbit. The textbook launch by the GSLV Mark-Three today conveys the message that it can significantly reduce the dependence on foreign launch facilities and brings the nation another step forward towards self-reliance in putting satellites in higher orbits. Jayasingh, AIR News, Sriharikotta.

The Supreme Court today reserved its order on pleas seeking court monitored probe in procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph concluded the arguments advanced by various parties. The petitioners have also sought registration of an FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in the deal.

The Court said, pricing details of Rafale jets could only be discussed after it decides on whether to make it public. The observation by the bench came after the government refused to publicly divulge pricing details of the deal, saying it would give advantage to India's enemies. The top court was hearing a bunch of pleas alleging criminality in Rafale deal and seeking a court-monitored probe into it.

World Diabetes Day is being observed today.The theme for World Diabetes Day this year as well as next year is The Family and Diabetes.

"Over 425 million people in the world are currently living with diabetes. Most of these cases are type 2 diabetes. According to a WHO 2015 data, India has over 69.2 million people living with diabetes. Of them, it remained undiagnosed in more than 36 million people. Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. Healthy diet, healthy weight, and physcial activity are methods to prevent diabetes. With Dipendra, Suparna Saikia, AIR News, Delhi."

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In Badminton, PV Sindhu and Sameer Verma today advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open at Kowloon. In their opening round matches, while Sindhu, seeded third, defeated Thailand's Nitchaon Jindapol, Sameer beat another Thai Suppanyu Avihingsanon.

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